Commercial washing machine



Nov. 8, 1960 Filed Nov. 15, 1958 knM H. C. ELLIS COMMERCIAL WASHING MACHINE O a 6. e 0. o no 0 ooooon HUBERT 0 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ELLIS ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1960 H. c. ELLIs 2,959,048

COMMERCIAL WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HUBERT C. ELLIS ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1960 H. c. ELLIS COMMERCIAL WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 13, 1958 FIG.5

INVENTOR. HUBERT C. ELLIS MwM ATTO RN EY the upper forward quadrant thereof.

ited States COMMERCIAL WASHING MACHINE Hubert C. Ellis, 1210 Lake St., Evanston, Ill.

Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,752

3 Claims. (Cl. 68-210) zontally disposed cylinder having an outer shell and an imier drum concentric therewith and rotatably supported therein. Both the shell and the drum have door-equipped access openings alignable with each other so as to permit laundry to be placed within and removed from the interior of the drum. Normally, the cylinder is contained within the general dimensional limits of the frame, and

in such disposition the access openings are located along However, such orientation of the cylinder makes laundry removal difficult, and to unload the drum, provision is made to swing the cylinder about its pivotal axis forwardly of the frame which disposes the access openings generally along the forward lower quadrant of the cylinder and forwardly of the frame.

The laundry is unloaded from the drum into one or more wheeled carts that are positioned beneath theaccess openings of the washing cylinder. Such unloading of the cylinder is essentially a hand operation since the laundry must be manually guided into the carts, for otherwise articles may be spilled onto the floor and thereby soiled. Commercial washing machines of this type constitute the environmental setting of the'present invention, and if further details are desired regarding the construction thereof, reference may be made to Ellis patent, No. Re. 23,065 which has an exemplary disclosure thereof.

An object of the present invention is that of'providing guide means for cooperative use with laundry carts to properly position the same in relation to the washing cylinder of a commercial washing machine during laundry removal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a skirt or apron having relatively large openings therethrough, and which may be selectively moved from a position of non-use in general vertical disposition along the front side of a washing machine, to a generally horizontal position in which the openings thereof are in superjacency with laundry carts so that laundered articles removed from the washing cylinder may be tumbled downwardly therefrom onto the skirt and through the openings provided thereby into the carts.

Yet another object is in the provision of a retractible platform carried by a washing machine and which is useful as a step for a workman during loading of the washing cylinder, and which also serves as a stop or' guide for positioning carts bcneath'the skirt to receive laundry from the washing cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a commercial washing machine having a horizontally disatent k ice posed washing cylinder that is pivotally movable forwardly of the support frame therefor to facilitate unloading operations, both a retractible platform and a selectively movable skirt having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough respectively aligned in a generally vertical direction with the access openings and doors therefor in the washing cylinder. adapted to be supported in a generally horizontal plane on the upper edges of laundry carts disposed therebelow in alignment with the skirt openings; and at the same time, the platform is adapted to serve as a stop or abutment to orient such carts with respect to the front side of the washing machine to assure alignment of the carts with the skirt openings.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the Figure 4 is a largely diagrammatic end view in elevation of the washing machine showing the skirt or apron in the horizontal position thereof; and

Figure 5 is similarly a largely diagrammatic end view in elevation showing the washing cylinder in its forwardly rotated position with a laundry cart located for the receipt of laundered articles.

The washing machine in its entirety is designatedwith the numeral 10, and comprises a frame 11 having end walls 12 and 13. The end walls are each equipped with feet 14 that may be apertured to permit their being bolted to a floor or other support platform. Carried by the frame is a washing cylinder 15 comprising an outer shell 16 and an inner drum 17. The cylinder, and in particular the outer shell thereof, is provided adjacent each end with bearings 18 and 19 having respectively journalled therein axles or shafts 20 and 21 that are carried by the end walls 12 and 13. The washing cylinder 15 is pivotal about the horizontal axis defined by the shafts 20 and 21, between the positions shown in Figures 1 and 4 and that in Figure 5.

Such pivotal movement of the washing cylinder is effected by a prime mover comprising a hydraulic pistoncylinder combination designated generally with the numeral 22. The cylinder 23 thereof is pivotally supported at 24 on a bracket 25 rigid with the end wall 13. The piston which is reciprocable within the cylinder 23 is equipped with a rod 26 pivotally connected at its upper end with the outer shell of the washing cylinder, as shown generally at 27 in Figures 4 and 5. The cylinder 23 is supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure through suitable conduits from a pump that is not shown. The controls for selectively actuating such pump are provided by a panel 28 carried by the end wall 13 of the frame through a support 29. Associated with the control panel spaces 32 provided therefor by the frame ends 12 and 13.

The drum 17 is rotatable within'the shell 16, and the Patented Nov. 8, 1960' Such skirt is drive motor and gear reducer through which such rotation is effected are carried by the shell and are designated with the numerals 33 and 3 4.

The shell 16 defines a plurality of access openings therein, each of which is equipped'witha closure door. In'Figure 1, four such openings and the doors therefor are shown, and are designated, respectively, with the numerals 35 through 38. These doors arearcuate and are slidable between-the closed positions thereof shown by the doors 35, 36 and 38, and an open position as-illustrated by the door 37. The drum 17' has a plurality of access openings, respectively aligned with the doors 35 through 38 in the shell 16, and each such drum opening is provided with .a closure door 39. It will be apparent that when the doors ofthe shell and drum are all open, access to the interior of the drum afforded. Further, when the washing cylinder is seated within the frame as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the door-equipped openings in the shell and. drum are disposed in the upper left quadrant (as viewed fro rn the end thereof illustrated in Figure 4), and this is the-loading and washing position. However, when the washing cylinder is rotated outwardly of the frame about the shafts and 21, as shown in Figure 5, such openings are located inthe lower left quadrant, and this is the unloading position of the cylinder." I

Washing machines of the general type just described are commercially available; and in view of this, the foregoing description is believed sufficient to provide a thorough understanding of the environment of the present invention; However, if further details are desired, they can be obtained from the aforementioned Ellis patent, No. Re. 23,065. i

The washing machine 10 is provided along the front side thereof with an unloading apron or skirt 40 supported for pivotal movement about a shaft 41 which is carried at its opposite ends by the respective frame walls 12 and 13., As is shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the shaft 41 extends through a hook-shaped hanger 42 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the apron 40. The apron along the inner longitudinal edge thereof is bent laterally to extend at generally right angles to the plane of the apron, and is then reversely turned to provide a wall or lip 43 of double thickness. The ends of the apron are formed in the same manner so as to provide wall portions or flanges 44. Along its forward edge, the apron is simply turned'under, asshownat 45.

The apron 40 is also provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 46therethrough which are relatively large and are located in correlation with the door-equipped access openings in the washing cylinder 15. Thus, in the specific illustration, the apron has four such openings therethrough, and these openings are in alignment in a generally vertical direction with those in the cylinder. Normally, the apron depends from the shaft 41 along the front of the washing machine, but is swingable upwardly therefrom and into a generally hori zontal position as shown inFigui-es4 and 5. In this latter position, the openings 46in the apron are adapted to be aligned in juxtaposition with laundry carts, such as the exemplary cart illustrated bybroken lines in Figure 5 and denoted with the numeral47. Such laundry carts are ordinarily equipped with wheels or castors 4310 enable the'same to be rolled with facility to different locations. In its horizontal position, at rest along the upper surfaces'of laundry carts 47, the apron serves as a guide onto which laundered articles are tumbled fromithe wash ngcylinder 15, 'for movemen't tlir ough' the apron open: ings 46 and into the carts 47.

The washing machine is also equipped with a stop platform denoted generally withfthe number '49, and is' selectively movable between the" extended position therof shown in Figures 2 and5 and the retracted position: illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4 The platform, c

ment 50 rigidly secured to a pair of facing, generally U-shaped channels 51 and 52. The step at each end thereof is Welded or otherwise affixed to the respective support arms or brackets 53 and 53a. These brackets in turn are supported for pivotal movement about the respective pins 54 and 55 which are carried by lugs 56 and 57 that are mounted on the respective end walls 13 and 12 of the washing machine frame.

Selective movement of the platform is afforded by hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies 58 and 59 which are provided at the ends of the platform. Each of the assemblies comprises a cylinder 60 having a piston reciprocable therein that carries a piston rod 61 provided at its outer end with a clevis 62 pivotally connected by a clevis pin 63 to a pair of links 64 and 65the first of which is pivotally connected by a pin 66 to the support arm 53, and the latter of which is pivotally connected by a pin 67 to the end wall of the washing machine frame. Each of the piston-cylinder assemblies is double-acting, and is connected by tubing 68 to a hydraulic pump (not shown). Actuation of the pump is determined by controls 69 carried by the frame wall 13 below the control panel 28, as shown in Figure 1. Each of the cylinders 60 is also pivotally connected at the inner end thereof by a pin 70 to the respective end walls of the frame so that the forces developed by each assembly are exerted be tween the frame and platform through the links 64 and 65 thereof.

The platform 49 has a plurality of functions: First, it can be swung outwardly to orient the step thereof along a generally horizontal plane extending from end to end of the washing machine; and in such position, it may be used by a Workman to place soiled laundry into the washing cylinder 15 for the cylinder, when in its loading position, has the door-equipped openings thereof oriented in the upper forward quadrant. Thus, the platform is employed as a step by the workman to facilitate loading of the machine. Secondly, when in its extended position, the platform is useful as a stop or abutment to positively locate laundry carts with respect to the front of the washing machine, and consequently in front-torear alignment with the access openings in the cylinder thereof. That is, during an unloading operation, the washing cylinder is swung forwardly as shown in Figure 5 to locate the access openings thereof in the lower quadrant of the cylinder and beyond the frame 11. The platform limits movement of the laundry carts 47 toward the frame; and because of the dimensional relationship of the platform and washing cylinder, such carts are in a proper location for receipt of laundry from the cylinder.

At the same time, the apron 40is swung upwardly and into a position such that it can rest upon and be supported by the upper edges of the laundry carts 47. The apron also establishes the proper location of the laundry carts along the longitudinal axis of the washing machine, for the carts must be respectively aligned with the openings 46 in the apron. Thus, the apron and platform define a guide or positioning assembly for positively locating laundry carts for the receipt of articles tumbled from the washing cylinder 15 and onto the apron. It will be apparent that the apron and platform are independently movable so that the platform can be extended or retracted without interfering with the apron; and similarly, the apron may be swung between its horizontal and vertical positions without interfering with the platform.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a commercial washing machine having a stationary frame on an. underlying UPPOrt surface. and an elonga cdhor zsma y isp ed, wash cy inde pr d d.

with door-equipped access openings, said washing cylinder being supported on said frame for selective movement between respectively a rotating washing position within said frame wherein said access openings are closed, a stationary loading position within said frame wherein said access openings are open and disposed upwardly out of reach of an ordinary workman standing on the underlying support surface, and a stationary unloading position with portions of said washing cylinder extending forwardly on one side of and beyond said frame wherein said access openings are open and disposed downwardly and overlying the underlying support surface along said one side of said frame, an unloading apron pivotally carried by said frame adjacent to said one side thereof for swinging movement between a generally vertical nonuse position along said one side of said frame and a generally horizontal use position below said access openings when said washing cylinder is in the unloading position, said unloading apron having guide openings therein in alignment with said access openings in the unloading position for passing washed laundry therethrough from said washing cylinder into laundry carts positioned below said guide openings, a running board mounted on said frame adjacent to said one side thereof for movement between a retracted position within said frame along said one side thereof out of the path of the workmen and an extended generally horizontal position outwardly beyond said one side of said frame and below said unloading apron in the unloading position thereof and substantially above the underlying support surface, the outer edge of said running board in the horizontal position thereof being in general vertical alignment with the inner edge of the guide opening in said unloading apron in the unloading position thereof for abutting engagement with a laundry cart positively to locate the laundry cart below said guide opening, and power means to move said running board between the retracted position and the horizontal position thereof and to hold said running board in the horizontal position with workmen standing thereon, whereby said unloading apron and said running board are placed in the vertical and retracted positions respectively when said washing cylinder is in the washing position thereof to remove them from the path of the workmen, said unloading apron being in the vertical position and said power means holding said running board in the horizontal position when said washing cylinder is in the loading position to support workmen in position to place soiled laundry into said Washing cylinder, and said unloading apron and said running board being placed in the horizontal position when said washing cylinder is in the unloading position with a laundry cart below said guide opening and supporting said unloading apron and positively located in the proper position by engagement with said running board.

2. The commercial washing machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the power means includes an hydraulic motor at each end of the running board.

3. The commercial washing machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the unloading apron is of generally planar configuration having substantially perpendicularly disposed flanges extending along the end and inner edges thereof, and a pair of support arms is provided respectively carried by said frame at opposite ends thereof for pivotal movement and the running board extends between said support arms and is secured thereto and carried thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,957 Burpee Nov. 26, 1889 1,775,878 White Sept. 16, 1930 2,508,268 Knowlton May 16, 1950 

